15 Warning

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Shao Ziyang’s arrival was abrupt, and judging by his demeanor, it was not for personal matters.

Lu Mingzhao sensed something was amiss and did not answer his question. Frowning deeply, his eyes darkened. “You came today just to ask about this?”

In front of his close friend, Lu Mingzhao tried not to appear overly aggressive, but when it came to Luo Wen, his vigilance never wavered.

He paused briefly, then opened the door wider. “Come in first, and we’ll talk there.”

Shao Ziyang entered with a police officer. He glanced around the room, then peeked toward the half-closed kitchen door, his tone slightly teasing. “You’re living quite well these days. If my mother saw this with her own eyes, she wouldn’t nag you all the time anymore.”

Lu Mingzhao poured hot water for the two men on the sofa and took a seat himself.

He smiled faintly. “You’re not here just to check on me. With our personalities, let’s not waste time beating around the bush. Tell me, what’s happened to make you, Captain Shao, come knocking?”

Shao Ziyang didn’t touch the water. His sharp gaze locked onto Lu Mingzhao’s face like a blade. Without answering directly, he asked, “Where were you between four and seven o’clock yesterday?”

Such a question typically arose only in criminal investigations. Lu Mingzhao’s brows tightened. He didn’t shy away from Shao’s scrutinizing stare but lowered his gaze thoughtfully before replying slowly, “Around four, I went to my brother’s company to discuss a game project about to launch. Just past six, I drove to Lin University to pick up Luo Wen.”

His eyes met Shao Ziyang’s steadily. “Since you brought up Luo Wen first and know our relationship, there’s no need for me to explain.”

Shao Ziyang’s expression remained serious and cautious. He glanced at the police officer beside him, who nodded slightly, before continuing, “That’s not all. I also know you once had a conflict with Ke Tianyu because of Luo Wen.”

Lu Mingzhao was no fool. Knowing Shao’s astute and capable nature, he wouldn’t mention such a name without reason. He straightened up from his relaxed posture, eyes fixed on Shao.

Without hesitation, Shao Ziyang said, “Ke Tianyu died last night.”

Surprise flashed across Lu Mingzhao’s face. There is a saying that misfortune haunts generations. If the story had followed its original course, Ke Tianyu would have been living a decadent, tyrannical life—indulging in debauchery and cruelty. Yet now, from Shao’s words, he was simply… gone.

“In fact, the time you mentioned has already been investigated by my colleagues before I arrived,” Shao said calmly, his pupils locked onto Lu Mingzhao’s. Within those sharp eyes lay a hint of worry.

Lu Mingzhao was puzzled, feeling a strange tension emanating from Shao. “Then you must know there was no opportunity for either of us to commit the crime.”

Shao’s face darkened, his brow furrowed deeply. After a moment, he said, “Don’t worry. I’m here purely out of professional rigor, just to double-check. Later, I want to talk with Luo Wen again.”

Seeing Lu hesitate, a slightly exaggerated expression crossed Shao’s face. “Just for a little while. No need to be so guarded. Just a few questions, very quick.”

Lu Mingzhao finally nodded in agreement. Luo Wen had spent most of yesterday with him, and as Shao said, the timeline must have already been established. If Luo Wen were involved, they would have been arrested by now.

Shao Ziyang pulled out a cigarette, placing it between his lips, and looked toward the kitchen. The half-closed door hid a figure busy inside, seemingly unaware of their presence as the exhaust fan roared.

Lighting his cigarette, Shao exhaled a plume of white smoke and his expression grew distant. “Have you heard of the Jiangcheng dismemberment case?”

Lu Mingzhao was taken aback. He turned to the system, “Have you heard of it?”

The system, listening attentively, shook its head.

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“You were still busy with school at the time. It’s not surprising you don’t know—it’s a chilling case,” Shao said, inhaling deeply. “Over a decade ago, an old residential area in Jiangcheng was slated for demolition under government plans. One day, workers found a headless male corpse inside one of the houses. His body was covered in wounds, as if someone bore him a deep and bitter grudge.”

A strange feeling stirred in Lu’s chest. Given Shao’s personality and position, he wouldn’t casually bring up a horrifying case irrelevant to their situation.

Shao bit the cigarette’s end, his voice becoming vague. “Later, police searched the trash bins and sewers around the old houses. The next day, a cleaning worker found the head in a nearby park. The identity of the headless corpse was confirmed through the victim’s lover’s identification. The man’s surname was Luo.”

A peculiar thought flashed through Lu’s mind, electrifying him. “Over ten years ago… Could that corpse be Luo Wen’s biological father?”

Shao nodded gently. “Yes. Luo Huarong had long settled down in Jinghai as a live-in son-in-law. He ran a small seafood business thanks to his wife. Business trips often took him to Jiangcheng, where he met Luo Wen’s mother.”

Suddenly, a muted thunderclap rolled across the sky, and the warm sunshine dimmed behind gathering dark clouds.

Lu fell silent for a moment, his jet-black eyes fixed on Shao. “You wouldn’t mention this without reason, and reveal so much—doesn’t it violate your department’s rules?”

He glanced sideways. At some point, the police officer had turned off the body camera and was quietly sipping his tea, acting as if unaware.

Shao scoffed, flicking the ash from his cigarette. “This isn’t classified information—it happened ages ago. But…”

His tone softened as he suddenly asked, “Have you ever seen a pair of blood-red eyes?”

Lu’s heart jumped, nearly betraying him. He controlled his expression, though his pulse quickened. Frowning in confusion, he repeated, “Blood-red eyes?”

Shao stubbed out the cigarette and threw it away, his gaze more serious. “AtI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.